Flexible parquetry.



No. 871,420` PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

A. & P. KOHOUT.

FLEXIBLE PARQUBTRY. Ammonium rILnn rms. 19.190'1.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

ALOIS KOHOUT AND FREDERICK KOHOUT, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS TOHENRY F. VOGEL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

FLEXIBLE PARQUETRY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALois KOHOUT and FREDERICK KoHoUT, citizens of theUnited States of America, residing in the city of St. Louis and State ofMissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FlexibleParquetry, of which the following is afull, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, formingpart of this specification.

Our invention relates to a flexible parquetry for use upon floors ofbuildings or other structures, such as railway cars, and also forwainscoting and various other forms of coverings.

Figure I is a perspective view of a fragment of our parquetry. Fig. IIis a perspective view of the reverse side of our parquetry in partiallyrolled condition. Fig. III is a perspective view of one of the blocks ofthe parquetry in inverted position.

In producing our parquetry we take a sheet 1 of any flexible material,such as fabric, the material used being preferably canvas. This sheetconstitutes the backing of the parquetry and on it are laid blocks 2`which are firmly cemented at their lower Sides to the backing sheet,and are cemented to each other at parallel edges but are leftindependent of connection with each other at other edges in order thatthe entire structure will be of a iiexible nature. The blocks 2 arepreferably of wood, but they may be of any other suitable material, orof compositions of materials, for instance they may be composed ofsawdust and a proper bond from which the blocks are molded, or of Woodpulp molded into the shape of blocks. Each of the blocks 2 of theparquetry is provided with one or more grooves 3 at its rear side, thegrooves being preferably two in number in each block although they maybe of any other desirable number. The Crrooves in the blocks receive thebacking sheet of the parquetry which is firmly inserted or tucked in andembedded in the grooves in the process of making the parquetry by forceapplied to said backing sheet in any desirablemanner, such ,as bythe useof a thin blade `or strip of metal to which pressure may be applied. Thebacking sheet is preferably coated throughout with a suitable cementbefore the blocks are a plied to it and therefore when portions of saidsheet Specification of Letters Patent.

Anplication filed February 191907, Serial No. 358,246.

Patented Nov. 19, 1907'. x

are forced into the grooves of the blocks they become cemented thereinin addition to the binding action incident to the expansion of I theseportions of the sheet when the means for forcing them into the groovesis withdrawn.

By inserting and tucking in and embedding portions of the backing sheetin the grooves of the blocks, the blocks are effectually interengagedwith and held from separation from the backing sheet and prevented frombecoming detached therefrom owing to the portions of the sheet enteringinto the grooves entirely filling such grooves. The blocks are thereforerendered practically moisture proof to prevent moisture from causingthem to become loosened from the backing sheet but should, however,moisture enter into the portions of the sheet which are seated in thegrooves of the blocks it acts only to more tightly bind such portions inthe grooves, due to the swelling thereof. By virtue of forcing thebacking sheet into the grooves of the blocks ribs or seams are createdtherein and the parquetry can only be rolled in one direction but ismaterially increased in strength, due to the presence of these ribs orseams.

The parquetry in ay be readily coated after it is placed in service witha solution of wax, varnish or other substance to render it moisture orgerm proof and it is of such construction and nature that it is muchless expensive of manufacture than carpet or linoleum. It is also muchwarmer as a floor covering than the materials mentioned.

Flexible parquetry made in accordance with our invention has theadvantage of being readily rolled into bundles, due to the flexibilitythereof, when being conveyed from a place of manufacture to the place atwhich it is to be used or when on sale in stores or conveyed from placeto place. It also has the advantage of being readily cut into any sizesections by merely severing the backing sheet on a line at which it isdesired to make a cut, and it is furthermore an article of the kind towhich the invention relates which can be readily manufactured at afactory and conveyed to the place at which it is to be used without thenecessity of laying the parquetry blocks individually upon flooring asis commonly done in constructing parquetry floors.

Claims: rear sides and secured to said backing sheet l. Parquetrycomprising a backing sheet in a common plane so that the backing sheetand blocks having grooves at their rear sides spans more than tWoblocks; intermediate and secured to said backing sheet in a eorn- Iportions of the backing sheet being inserted '5 mon plane so that thebacking sheet spans or tucked into the grooves of the blocks.

more than two blocks; intermediate por- ALOIS KOHOUT. tions 'of thebacking sheet being inserted or FREDERICK KOHOUT; tucked into thegrooves of the blocks. In presence of:

2. Parquetry comprising a ieXible baek- BLANCHE HOGAN, 10 ing sheet andblocks having grooves at their l LILY RosT.

